Gastrointestinal Diseases in the Ferret (Part I)

Katrina D. Ramsell Ph.D, DVM

{November 2003)

In this article I would like to discuss gastrointestinal diseases in ferrets.  This is a somewhat broad topic, and this article will provide more of an overview, with subsequent articles focussing on specific diseases.  The ferret gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an important topic to discuss as ferrets commonly have one or more diseases associated with the GI tract.

There are a variety of symptoms that can indicate that your ferret likely has some sort of GI disease, such as vomiting, diarrhea or abnormal stools, tooth grinding, and weight loss or thin body build.  A number of factors such as age, diet, and environment must be taken into consideration when your veterinarian is trying to determine what is causing your ferret’s illness and how to appropriately treat your pet.  The most helpful thing you can do for a pet that has to be taken to a veterinarian is to be very observant of any changes in your pet’s behavior.  Providing details, such as specific problems, length of time that abnormalities were noted, exposure to other animals, and changes in diet or environment, is critically important when your veterinarian is taking a history on your pet.  This information can help determine which diagnostic tests may be needed to figure out what is wrong with your ferret.

It is important to be able to describe the characteristics of your ferret’s stools. Vomiting behavior and the appearance of the vomit is also important in understanding your ferret’s illness.  As a ferret owner, it is helpful if you understand what different stools or vomiting may indicate, and having this knowledge may help save your ferret’s life someday.

A description of your ferret’s stool quality should include:

1. Consistency – e.g. liquidy, very soft, soft and somewhat formed, firm and tubular

2. Color – e.g. brown, green, yellow, black/tarry, red/bloody

** Note: Tarry or bloody stools indicate that there is bleeding occurring in the GI tract, and it is imperative that your ferret receive immediate medical attention.  Tarry stools indicate bleeding, usually from an ulcer in the stomach or small bowel.  Bright red blood usually indicates bleeding from lower down in the GI tract, such as from the colon.

3. Texture – e.g. mucousy, gelatinous, seedy or grainy

** Note: Seedy stools are seen frequently in ferrets and represent food material that has not been completely digested.

4. Odor – e.g. very foul smelling, normal poop smell, no odor

**Note: Abnormally foul smelling stools often indicate an excess of intestinal bacteria.  Sometimes one can even detect the odor of blood in the stool, which is somewhat subtle but fairly distinct.

5. Urgency – Does your ferret have time to make it to the litter box, or does your ferret defecate before being able to reach the anticipated target site?

6. Behavior – Does your ferret strain or cry while defecating?

7. Amount – Are you seeing small, scant stools, or is there a normal amount each time?

A description of your ferret’s vomit and vomiting behavior should include:

1. Consistency – e.g. foamy, liquidy, food material

2. Color – e.g. clear, yellow, brown, bloody, food colored

3. Behavior – Does your ferret cry or have abdominal contractions associated with the vomiting, or does the material come up passively without effort?

4. Timing – Does your ferret vomit right after eating or is the vomiting completely independent of when your ferret has eaten?

** Note: If your ferret appears to vomit right after eating, and especially if it appears to be an effortless process, then you ferret may be “regurgitating” rather than truly vomiting.  This may indicate that your ferret is suffering from a disease known as megaesophagus, where the esophagus is unable to properly push the food down into the stomach.  This is a very serious disease, as your ferret can potentially starve to death or aspirate (breath food material into the lungs) which can cause severe pneumonia and potentially death.  Many ferrets with megaesophagus will be very hungry but are unable to keep food down and tend to lose weight quite quickly.  A ferret showing signs of megaesophagus should be taken to a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian as soon as possible.

5. Onset – Did your ferret’s vomiting come on quickly and unexpectedly?  Was your ferret playing with something like a rubber toy or chewing on something soft such as a shoe insole recently?

** Note: A ferret that suddenly starts vomiting, often violently, does not have much of an appetite, and may or may not have been observed chewing on or playing with a soft or rubbery object may very likely have an intestinal blockage.  This is a medical emergency, and surgical removal of an intestinal foreign body is almost always required to save the ferret’s life.  A distended abdomen may also provide a clue that there is an intestinal blockage as the stomach can start bloating.  Ferrets in this situation often become lethargic very quickly and shock and subsequent death can occur if the object is not removed immediately.

Infectious diseases, such as viruses and bacteria, parasites, neoplasia (cancer), ingested foreign objects, food allergies or dietary intolerance, immune-mediated diseases, and toxins are some common causes of GI disease in ferrets. There are certain ferret GI diseases that are “clinically relevant”, meaning it is not something rare, but rather a disease or problem that we are somewhat likely see when you bring your ill ferret into the clinic. It is important to note that some of these GI diseases can lead to other or additional GI diseases and some are very serious or potentially fatal, which is why your ferret should receive medical attention as soon as you suspect a problem.   The following is a list of some GI diseases and the relative frequency with which they are seen.  Individual diseases will be discussed in future issues of Cascade Summit.

The most commonly observed GI diseases in ferrets include:

1) Mouth and stomach ulcers

2) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (lymphocytic, plasmacytic)

3) GI foreign bodies (more commonly present in the stomach than intestines)

4) Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (ECE) – i.e. Green Slime Diarrhea (a coronavirus)

5) Bacterial overgrowth in the intestines

Diseases that are seen somewhat frequently include:

1) Neoplasia (cancer) – most frequently lymphoma

2) Inflammatory bowel disease (eosinophilic)

3) Helicobacter (a bacteria associated with stomach ulcers)

 

Less commonly observed GI diseases include:

1) Megaesophagus

2) Aleutian disease (a parvovirus)

3) Proctitis (inflammation of the anus or rectum)

4) Proliferative Bowel Disease

5) Coccidiosis (parasitic)

6) Enterotoxemia